The U.S. trade deficit widened in December for the second straight month as domestic demand for imported goods ended the year on a strong note. … READ MORE >
Blog
Workforce solutions firms see growth opportunities following banner 2021
Private equity firms clearly see the value of workforce solutions firms, evidenced by the significant capital raised and number of deals closed in the space in 2021. … READ MORE >
Canada runs a trade deficit as imports surge
Canada’s merchandise trade balance in December turned deficit after six consecutive monthly surpluses as imports of consumer goods surged and oil prices dropped. … READ MORE >
Property conversions could answer the call for more multifamily housing
The housing shortage is leading developers to consider alternatives to building new homes from the ground up. Property conversions, which require less time, materials and labor, present viable solutions to the shortage, particularly in the multifamily housing sector. … READ MORE >
Although U.S. jobs report outshined Canada’s, Canadian outlook remains promising
As the initial shock of the Feb. 4 Canadian jobs report wears off, it’s clear that Canada is still firmly on the road of strong economic growth in 2022 and is still in step with the United States. … READ MORE >
Labor shortage remains a major challenge for oil and gas: Spring 2022 outlook
Oil and gas companies are facing a labor shortage that poses serious risk to the industry’s efforts to recover from the tumult of the past two years. Some workers are moving to the renewable energy space, while others are leaving the industry altogether. … READ MORE >
Rising capex investments require ‘new collar’ workers: Spring 2022 outlook
Since the last economic recession, the industrial sector has lagged others in capital goods investments, but 2021 saw record industrial spending in this area as companies played catch-up. This elevated spending could have important implications for the industry’s future, especially on the labor front. … READ MORE >
The automotive sector as a blueprint for robotics in manufacturing: Spring 2022 outlook
For manufacturers that have not yet embraced robotics, a look at the automotive sector’s method of adoption, use cases and investment approach can provide insight into what’s possible. … READ MORE >
Robots rise on the shop floor: Spring 2022 outlook
Manufacturers have struggled to meet the demand spike after the initial pandemic slump for many reasons, but perhaps most importantly because of labor shortages. This has strengthened the case for companies to invest in robotics and automation. … READ MORE >
Manufacturing and energy industry outlook: Spring 2022
Our spring outlook examines how manufacturing companies can thoughtfully incorporate robotics into their business models, lessons learned from the auto industry when it comes to automation, the oil and gas workforce landscape, and the labor implications of elevated capital expenditure investments. … READ MORE >